2012 MINI Cooper S Roadster (Review)

It seems as though the brand is experimenting with gene-splicing in order to multiply the number of different models in their lineup. There are now seven Cooper models to choose from.The 2012 MINI Cooper S Roadster is one of the family’s two droptops, yet it’s not just a two-seater version of the Cooper Convertible.

The 2012 MINI Cooper S Roadster adopts the Coupé’s shape, but replaces the huge glass hatch with a conventional trunk. It shares the Cooper hatch’s wheelbase, length and width as well, but somehow looks much smaller. Inside, claustrophobics be warned: While available space is pretty similar, less glass and a lower roofline will make you feel encapsulated. Needless to say, rearward visibility is not great, just like in the Convertible.

The 2012 MINI Cooper S Roadster can also go fast. Its turbocharged 1.6L 4-cylinder spits out 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque and sounds like a Chihuahua with rabies. With the standard 6-speed manual, it can zip to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds.While the Cooper S Roadster is a hoot to drive, when you’re into more relaxed driving, the car isn’t; it always pushes you to punch the throttle to feel that extra burst of speed, and the ride is stiff over less-than-smooth roads. At 100 km/h, the engine spins at 2,500 rpm and fills the cabin with a fair amount of noise.

The 2012 MINI Cooper S Roadster can also go fast. Its turbocharged 1.6L 4-cylinder spits out 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque and sounds like a Chihuahua with rabies. With the standard 6-speed manual, it can zip to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds.While the Cooper S Roadster is a hoot to drive, when you’re into more relaxed driving, the car isn’t; it always pushes you to punch the throttle to feel that extra burst of speed, and the ride is stiff over less-than-smooth roads. At 100 km/h, the engine spins at 2,500 rpm and fills the cabin with a fair amount of noise.

2013 Lexus ES 350: (Review)

The 2013 Lexus ES 350 has comfy leather furniture, too; like, really, really comfy. The seats here are heated, chilled, and so aromatic they leave their scent on your clothing.Add your favourite tunes to the sofa experience via a set of high-end headphones (or the 2013 Lexus ES 350 experience via the Mark Levinson stereo), and you’re on your way to the ultimate in tranquil isolation.

On smooth pavement, the ride in the 2013 Lexus ES 350 is whisper quiet and soft, with a touch of firmness around the edges. It’s gentle and forgiving, but doesn't make you feel like you’re riding along on a glob of Cool Whip. Only the soft hum of spinning tires and the occasional lick of wind disturbs the experience of being disconnected from everything around you -- though some rougher roads do invade the cabin.

A 3.5L V6 sends the better part of 270 horsepower to the front wheels. The 2013 Lexus ES 350 hauls along aptly, and torque-steer scarcely presents itself as anything more than a slight tightening of the steering wheel.Combined fuel mileage over the course of my 1,800 kilometre test, including plenty of highway cruising at a good clip, landed at an appreciable 8.5L/100km.

Unleashed at full throttle, the engine makes a pleasingly powerful, but tastefully restrained sound as the power comes on hard towards redline. Highway passing can be handled confidently, especially with “SPORT” mode engaged for sharper (and quicker responding) throttle pedal inputs.

2012 Mazda MX-5 SV (Review)

The 2012 Mazda MX-5 SV is a base $29,145 GX that’s been given heated leather seating, alloy pedals, 17” gun-metal wheels, auto A/C and a Brilliant Black power retractable hard-top (PRHT). At $33,995, it’s not a bad deal but if you ask me, the money is spent on the wrong stuff.

The SV is a “show car” version of the MX-5, but it maintains all of the important ingredients that make the Miata great. The SV still sports the same nimble and agile chassis, responsive and quick steering, and peppy little engine.

Power is nothing without control (thank you, Pirelli). This is where the MX-5 could school most other so-called sports cars. The light-weight and rigid structure of the car is never overwhelmed by the power which is what makes the 2012 Mazda MX-5 so tractable. The 4-wheel disc brakes, although modest in size, are never strained. Pedal feel is good and easy to modulate. Steering, as I’ve noted, is direct and provides turn-in that was second to none in its price range (see 2013 Scion FR-S). The way all of the car’s mechanicals come together make the driver’s job impossibly rewarding.

The 2012 Mazda MX-5’s ride is good -- well, was good. The SV’s basic suspension setup is too soft for any type of real performance driving. I found out firsthand during our recently completed compact performance car comparo 2.0 that the car handles with finesse, however, it’s that level of on-the-road comfort that makes for a car that “suffers” from exaggerated weight transfers and body roll on the track. Let’s be clear: exaggerated for an MX-5, not for a 2001 Buick Century

2013 Mazda CX-5 GT:Review

Mazda has a gift that more often than not, provides consumers what they want; even if they did not know they had a hankering for it. Case in point: the Mazda MX-5. No one saw that one coming and for the last 20+ years, I've wanted one.The very popular Mazda3 is an example of Mazda providing the car buying public with a little bit of everything; it looks good, drives great, and is reasonably economical and affordable.

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 is another grand slam touchdown for Mazda. What consumers have been asking for is a compact family mover that's got style and dislikes fuel. Mazda has delivered. The new CX-5 is cute like a French bulldog all the while avoiding looking like a teenager's first car. By far, Mazda's newest crossover has the best integrated front family smirk-fascia of the entire line-up. What makes the CX-5 appealing are its rising beltline and short front and rear overhangs; it's a modern-day hit! 

This technology is being touted to the world as the "future now." It represents a mix of weight-saving materials and the latest hi-tech wizardry for engines and transmissions The CX-5 and 3 are the first two products from Mazda to sport SKYACTIV-G engines. The CX-5's only offered mill is a 155-hp 2.0L 4-pot. Although low on power on paper, SKYACTIV reduces weight and friction and increases compression and efficiency, essentially allowing more of the engine's 150 torques and horses to make it the wheels. 

With a starting price of $22,995, the vehicle's got the necessary arguments to make it on the shopping list. A similarly equipped Kia Sportage is a grand less and a FWD Honda CR-V LX (only available with a 5-speed autobox) goes for $25,990. Of the three, I can tell you that the Honda is neither my 1st or 2nd choice. The 2013 Mazda CX-5 is a proper contender in this segment and deserves all the attention it is getting. 

2013 Audi Q3 (Review)

Sold only as a 5-passenger 4-door hatchback, the 2013 Audi Q3 would be smaller than any other premium-compact SUV on the American market except the Mini Countryman. Against the Q5, it stands 9.6 inches shorter, 2.7 inches narrower and nearly 2 inches lower on an 8.1-inch trimmer wheelbase. It’s also several hundred pounds lighter, thanks to its smaller size, as well as extensive use of structural high-strength steel and a hood and liftgate made of aluminum.

After testing a Q3, Britain’s Autocar magazine noted that “You need to be careful where you use Efficiency mode...On our test route, the associated absence of any engine braking wasn’t always helpful on twisting descents,” which would require using the brakes more. On the highway, however, “for drivers who like to read the road as far ahead as possible and avoid unnecessary braking, [the Efficiency setting] would probably make for a worthwhile fuel-economy boost.” It’s another example of how tightening fuel-economy and emissions standards are forcing automakers to adopt all sorts of efficiency enhancers, even yesteryear solutions like freewheeling.

Q3 launches in Europe with a quartet of 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engines, two gas and two diesel. These, too, are familiar VW/Audi fare, though the U.S. has yet to see their Euro-standard fuel-saving engine idle-stop system. The base-tune gas engine makes 170 horsepower, its diesel counterpart 140. Both are sold only with front-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission.

2012 Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 weights 3,307 lbs and measures 4.39 meters in 14.4 ft, 6.0 ft in width, and 5.25 ft in height, while the luggage compartment offers 16.24 to 48.2 cu ft of capacity. The Q3 will be available with all the latest technologies, including the MMI navigation plus – a hard drive navigation system – and the Bose surround sound system, with handsomely illuminated woofers up front

The new Audi Q3 comes with a sportier and a more progressive design. The single-frame grille features tapered upper corners and continues with a dynamic curve of the engine hood. The front is dominated by wedge-shaped headlights available as a xenon plus version including LED daytime running lights and large air inlets. On the side the Q3 gets dynamic lines and muscular wheels, while the D-posts resemble those of a coupe.

The interior is defined by the same sporty lines as the exterior, but is also all about luxury. The driver and the front-seat passenger are encapsulates by the now famous brand’s large curve, while the dashboard with its horizontal layout comes with an optional color display (as large as seven inches diagonally) on the instrument panel is a first in the Q series.

Customers will have the possibility to choose from five interior colors: black, gray, beige, and two shades of brown. With regard to upholstery, there are three fabric designs and three leather designs. For the inlays, there are four optional versions – including open-pored larch inlays and new silvery aluminum inlays with supplementary wire mesh and a 3D look

The 2.0 TFSI will be offered in either 170 HP or 211 HP versions and will sprint the Q3 from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, while top speed will be 142 mph. The first diesel version will deliver 177 HP, and it will be followed by a 140 HP one, with an average fuel economy of 45.23 US mpg, when paired with a front-wheel drive system.

Audi TTS 2013

The Audi TTS brings S-level performance to the iconic sports car in the Audi/VW AG family, and is aimed directly at the segment leading cars from BMW and Porsche

The TTS blends the original Bauhaus styling with Audi's current modern design theme and advanced technology. The coupe's spaceframe is 69% aluminum and 31% steel (roadster = 58/42%), with most of the steel in the rear to offset the weight of the engine and better balance the car. All TTS's are powered by a 265-hp TFSI turbocharged direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic S-tronic transmission.

 The all-wheel drive quattro system has been customized specifically to the TTS for faster response time. Unique body treatments, 19-inch wheels and black brake calipers provide the visual differentiation from the TT and safety features include front, side and knee airbags, tire pressure monitoring, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes and stability control.

Redesigned 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63

We loved the 2012 Mercedes E63 wagon. It was a matte gray, five-passenger rocket ship, and we’d be hard pressed to find a better grocery getter or tire smoker. Our tester made 550 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque with the optional AMG performance package. It also made it to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 eclipses that mark by 0.6 second, an eternity when dealing with 0-to-60-mph sprint times. Output is up 27 hp on the AMG S-Wagon, while torque remains the same. The increase is made possible by modifications to the engine-management system, an increase in the peak injection pressure and a hike in maximum boost pressure from 13.0 to 14.5 psi.

Like the last model, the E63 has four driving modes: manual, comfort, sport and sport plus. In comfort mode, the vehicles stop/start function kicks in, saving precious fuel. Also in comfort mode, the car takes off in second gear. The E63 also features race-start mode, where the computer controls traction on launch. Three modes of ESP are offered: on, off and sport handling. In the sport setting, the torque-vectoring brake applies stopping power to selected wheels, helping drivers through corners. All AMGs come with high-performance brakes; the standard AMGs get white calipers, the S-Model gets red calipers

The new E63 gets a significant facelift for 2014. It now sports a new “twin blade” radiator grille and a silver or body-colored “A wing” that controls airflow. The headlights are redesigned into a semi-teardrop shape, with LED lights separating the high beams from the low. In back, the taillights also get new LEDs, and a modified shape.

The interior is typical Mercedes and AMG. High-quality materials are all around, along with accenting stitching and near-infinitely adjustable seats. Bang & Olufsen provides the 1,200-watt sound system with surround sound. The COMAND system controls all navigation, audio and drive-characteristic changes